The said water appears like a large pond, from which in rainy weather may be seen jets springing up some inches above the surface in many parts.
I know the case of a farmer on the edge of Dartmoor, whose cattle were afflicted with some disorder in 1879; he thereupon conveyed a sheep to the ridge above his house, sacrificed and burnt it there, as an offering to the Pysgies. The cattle at once began to recover, and did well after, nor were there any fresh cases of sickness amongst them. Since then I have been told of other and very similar cases.
The moors on the south not bold--South Brent--Destruction of the screen--The Avon--Zeal Plains crowded with prehistoric remains--The Abbots' Way--Huntingdon's Cross--Petre's Cross--Hobajohn's Cross--Stone row--Remains upon Erme Plains--The Staldon stone row--Other rows--Beehive huts--Harford church--Hall--The Duchess of Kingston--The Yealm valley--Blowing-houses--Long wall--Hawns and Dendles--The tripper and ferns--Wisdome--Slade--Fardell--The Fardell Stone.
This not very interesting spot may be chosen as a centre whence the Avon, Erme, and Yealm river valleys may be explored. The distances are considerable, but the railway facilitates reaching starting-points--South Brent for the Avon, and Cornwood for the Yealm. It is advisable to ascend one river, cross a ridge, and descend another river.
The moors on this, the south, side are by no means so bold as are those on the other sides, but the valleys are hardly to be surpassed for beauty; and they give access to very remarkable groups of antiquities, the distance to some of which beyond inclosed land, and the absence of roads on this part of the moor has saved these latter from destruction.
In Ivybridge itself there is absolutely nothing worth seeing, but the churches of Ugborough and Ermington richly deserve a visit; and there are some old manor houses, as Fardell, Fillham, Slade, and Fowelscombe, that may be seen with interest. We will begin with the valley of the Avon.
South Brent is dominated by Brent Hill, that was formerly crowned with a chapel dedicated to S. Michael. The parish church, a foundation of S. Petrock, possessed a fine carved oak screen. The church has, however, been taken in hand by that iconoclast the "restorer," who has left it empty, swept and garnished--a thing of nakedness and a woe for ever. The screen--the one glory of the church--was cast forth into the graveyard, and there allowed to rot.